Representatives of the North American Interfaith Youth Network prepared and sent the following letters in April 2011. These letters serve as an example of the type of advocacy letters religious youth can send to their governmental representatives.

The Global Youth Network of Religions for Peace is advancing a new United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that asks member states to cut military spending and redirect those funds toward achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This reflects an important and necessary progression from existing UNGA resolutions on ‘disarmament and development’ that are less specific in their demands. The draft resolution also includes a number of other points, such as a call for a Fourth Special Session on Disarmament that would allow for substantial consideration of the relationship between disarmament and development, amongst other critical subjects.

The resolution is the political counterpart to a petition being circulated via the Religions for Peace Global Youth Network and their Arms Down! Campaign for Shared Security. Like the resolution, the petition calls on governments to reduce their military spending and re-allocate those funds toward development-related spending. Over twenty million people have signed the petition, indicating its success as a tool for grassroots mobilization and outreach.